but it really isn't a deal between obama and boehner. those two guys say what they want, boehner goes back to his caucus and can't get a deal. >> that's why a bipartisan majority is absolutely necessary, if the senate bill is brought to a vote on the house floor, it will be passed by a majority of democrats and some republicans, but the speaker wasted last week on a bill that had no prospect of success, in fact never even was brought to a vote and now we're down to the last few days. the deal to extend these tax cuts on everyone's first $250,000 of income, remember it's benefits people who earn more than $250,000 because it extends tax cuts on their first $250,000. so somebody earning $300,000 or $350,000 in connecticut will benefit from it. >> senator, ron brownstein wants to ask a question. >> let me play devil's advocate when the tax cuts were passed in 2001 virtually every democrat in the house and senate voted against them. why do you think it's appropriate to permanently extend the bush tax cuts for families under $250,000, in the